Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY -- A new program is helping Utah families get back something that is slipping away. Time together is decreasing and putting families at risk. To Stay Safe, the University of Utah is teaching families how to reconnect.
As part of one of the university's programs, children and their parents look at props and learn about what goes into a theater production.
"They get a sneak peek at the costumes and some of the props," said Penny Caywood, artistic director of youth theater at the University of Utah.
The amount of time families are spending together has dropped sharply in the last three years — as much as 35% for higher income households.
The goal isn't to teach them theater, but to get families learning something new together without all the day-to-day distractions.
"The problem is that families are just pulled so many different ways," explained Claire Turner, director of youth education at the University of Utah.
Strong families need shared activities, but a recent study by the University of Southern California found the amount of time families spend together has dropped sharply in the past three years by as much as 35 percent in some households.
"Everybody's involved in something else; so where is that experience that the families do together?" Turner said.
The University of Utah hopes to provide that experience with courses that build family bonding skills, through theater, gardening and other activities. When parents and kids learn something side by side, educators say, they develop stronger communication and friendships.
"That shared experience it what makes those really great family moments," Caywood said.
"We are really hoping it's something that will meet a need in the community," Turner said.
The University of Utah's Youth Education and Lifelong Learning departments are putting on these classes and want to hear what families would like to learn together. CLICK HERE to learn more.
E-mail: dwimmer@ksl.com
